COA traveling to North Manchester, Valparaiso for oral arguments
The Indiana Court of Appeals will travel north this week to hear oral arguments in two cases involving narcotics and murder.
Criminal Case
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Howard County sending texts to defendants about hearings
A central Indiana county has started sending text messages to criminal defendants to remind them about their upcoming court hearings. Howard County authorities hope the texting service that began in February can hold down the county jail’s population and reduce the resources law enforcement must devote to tracking down people who miss court appearances.
Split 7th Circuit slams Indiana attorneys in grant of habeas petition
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals granted a man’s habeas corpus petition — and offered harsh comments for Indiana defense attorneys — after finding ineffective assistance of counsel for a man whose attorney blatantly disregarded an opportunity to object to amended charges filed late.
Fort Wayne man convicted of killing 2 women, fetus
A jury needed less than two hours to convict a Fort Wayne man of three counts of murder in the fatal shootings of two women and the death of one’s unborn fetus.
Judge rejects Elkhart’s subpoena for newspaper records
A federal judge has rejected the City of Elkhart’s attempt to force a newspaper to turn over records of its reporting on a Chicago man who was pardoned after a decade in prison and is suing the Indiana city for wrongful conviction.
Man pleads guilty in chase that led to Indiana officer death
A man who authorities say started a southern Indiana police chase that led to an officer’s death is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty in the case.
Officer’s reasonable suspicion sufficient in speeding stop, justices rule
A man challenging the propriety of his traffic stop for speeding under both the United States and Indiana Constitutions failed to convince Indiana Supreme Court justices Wednesday that the officer who conducted the stop should have documented the speed. Justices ruled that the officer had reasonable suspicion to stop him.
Man charged with killing fellow inmate at Indiana prison
An Indianapolis man serving a 60-year sentence for murder has been charged with killing a fellow inmate at the Pendleton Correctional Facility.
Justices grant 1 transfer, deny 26 others
The Indiana Supreme Court considered petitions to transfer in 27 cases during the past week, granting just one, which also was decided last week.
Indiana pediatrician accused of sexually abusing 3 boys
A Boone County pediatrician is facing charges alleging he sexually abused three boys.
Danville man confesses to killing woman in Illinois in 2014
Police in central Indiana say a man has confessed to killing a woman in Illinois when he lived there more than four years ago.
Snapchat video of man with gun admissible, COA rules
A popular social media app contributed to a man’s conviction, which he argued portrayed him in the wrong light under Evidence Rule 404(b). However, the Indiana Court of Appeals rejected his argument when it found the video was not meant to target his character, but rather the evidence of his crime.
Murderer’s appeal seeking mistrial heads to Petersburg
An Indiana Court of Appeals panel will travel to Pike Central High School in southwestern Indiana on Tuesday to hear oral argument in a double murder case, considering whether certain comments made by a juror during trial resulted in an impartial jury.
Fertility fraud bill creating felony moves to House
Indiana doctors could face felony deception charges under legislation that follows the case in which a fertility doctor used his own sperm to impregnate perhaps dozens of women.
Tip leads Indiana police to re-examine 1950 murder case
Police in Portland in eastern Indiana are re-examining a teacher’s mysterious death nearly 70 years ago after a tip from an elderly man who claims to have information about the case.
Indiana man charged in Muslim man’s road rage shooting death
An Indiana man charged in the road rage shooting death of a Muslim man allegedly yelled “go back to your country” and made ethnic and religious insults against the victim before the shooting, according to court documents.
COA affirms vengeful brother’s intent to commit battery
A man who tried to avenge his sister by beating up her boyfriend who allegedly threatened to hit her failed to convince appellate judges that the boyfriend did not suffer serious bodily injuries from the attack carried out during a burglary.
US Supreme Court rules out death penalty for Texas inmate
A long legal fight over whether a Texas death row inmate could be executed ended Tuesday after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the 59-year-old man is intellectually disabled and thus cannot be put to death.
Justices deny transfer in 23 cases, splitting on 3
The Indiana Supreme Court denied 23 transfer requests last week, splitting on three of those cases.
In 9-0 ruling, SCOTUS rejects Indiana excessive civil forfeiture
The Eighth Amendment’s protection against excessive fines has been incorporated to the states via the 14th Amendment, the Supreme Court of the United States has unanimously ruled in deciding an Indiana civil forfeiture case that posed the question.